Find out what happened on your birthday, or any other day of the year:Month:Day:August 22

Today's Canadian Headline....

1711

NINE HUNDRED DROWN IN ST. LAWRENCE

Ile-aux-Oeufs Quebec -
British Admiral Hovenden Walker's assault on New France falters as 8 of his 15 warships are wrecked in gales and heavy fog in the St. Lawrence; nearly 900 men drown; 25 ships remaining in fleet return to England.

1884

Also On This Day...

Calgary Alberta -
Founding of the Calgary and District Agricultural Society; to promote the district's crops and the promise of the Calgary region by means of an annual exhibition; the 1885 fair was disrupted by the North West Rebellion, but it was held successfully in 1886; forerunner of the Calgary Stampede.

1935

Also On This Day...

Edmonton Alberta -
William Aberhart 1878-1943 leads Social Credit to victory over John Brownlee's United Farmers in Alberta provincial election; world's first Social Credit government will stay in power until 1971.

1827

And in Today's Canadian Birthdays...

Ezra Butler Eddy 1827-1906match manufacturer, was born on this day in 1827 in Bristol, Vermont; died in Hull, Quebec Feb. 12 1906. Eddy moved his small friction match factory from Burlington Vermont to Hull in 1851 to be near a steady supply of matchwood and water power. He sold his product all across eastern Canada, and after disastrous fires in 1983 and 1900, his E. B. Eddy Co. diversified into paper and box products, as well as export markets. He was elected Mayor of Hull 6 times, and served in the Quebec Assembly from 1871-75.

Also Jean-François de Galaup, Count de La Pérouse 1741-1788navigator, was born on this day at Albi, France in 1741; dies in 1788. La Pérouse conducted wide-ranging explorations in the Pacific Ocean. In 1782, he captured HBC Fort Prince of Wales from Chief Factor Samuel Hearne 1745-1792.

Also Rita Johnston 1935-Socred politician, was born on Rita Leichert on this day at Melville, Saskatchewan in 1935. Johnston served as a Surrey alderman from 1970 to 1983, partly under Mayor Bill Vander Zalm, and worked on his successful leadership campaign when he replaced Bill Bennett as BC Social Credit leader. She won election to the BC Legislature and in 1986 became BC Minister of Municipal Affairs and Transit, and Deputy Premier. When Vander Zalm resigned April 2, 1991, Johnston became Canada's first woman Premier. She was narrowly elected leader, but lost the election, and her own seat, to Mike Harcourt's NDP in Oct. 7, 1991.

Also Frank Marino 1954-rock musician, of the Montreal-based heavy-metal group Mahogany Rush was born on this day in 1954.

Also Paul Molitor 1956-baseball shortstop, was born on this day at St. Paul, Minnesota in 1956. Molitor signed as free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays on Dec. 7, 1992, after 15 years with Milwaukee Brewers; led the Jays to their 2nd straight World Series title as MVP; hit .418 in 2 Series appearances (1982, 1993); only player to hit 5 for 5 in World Series.

In Other Events....

1996

Montreal Quebec - Stéphane Richer returns to play with the Montreal Canadiens.

Charlottetown PEI
- Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, the premiers and aboriginal leaders sign the Charlottetown Accord after 5 day debate; Quebec to get 25% of Commons seats; veto over French language, culture; approval on three Supreme Court judges. Provinces to have the right to veto future changes in national institutions; get full control of forestry, mining, tourism, recreation, housing, culture; also urban affairs; can opt out of new national cost-sharing programs, and be compensated. Provinces agree in principle to get rid of interprovincial trade barriers. Accord enshrines native right to self-government in Constitution; 5 years to define concept before courts get involved; natives to be able to make native laws consistent with federal and provincial laws; peace, order, good government. Accord to let territories become provinces; existing provinces to OK terms and representation. Senate to be elected and equal; Quebec and Ontario to get 18 more Commons seats each; new Senate to be cut to 62 seats, 6 from each province, 1 from each territory; proposed new Senate can veto legislation on natural resources taxation and government appointments; Quebec senators in proposed new Senate can veto legislation on French language and culture.

1992

New York City
- Canadian rocker Tom Cochrane's 'Life Is A Highway' peaks at #6 on the Billboard pop singles chart.

New York City
- Colleen Dewhurst 1926-1991 dies of cancer at age 67; Montreal born actor starred on Broadway, then in films such as Annie Hall, and The Blue and the Gray; she was Murphy Brown's mother in the TV series, and was twice married to George C. Scott.

1991

Ottawa Ontario
- Supreme Court of Canada strikes down the 'rape shield law'; previous sexual conduct of those alleging rape could not be presented in court.

1990

Quebec Quebec
- Michel Belanger appointed co-Chair of the special commission to shape Quebec's political future; with Jean Campeau; 35 member Belanger-Campeau Commission to start Sept 4.

1986

Montreal Quebec
- Musicfest rock festival opens at a park in the north end of Montreal, featuring James Brown, Huey Lewis and the News and Elton John; a financial disaster - only 160,000 people attend in 11 days, less than the 270,000 needed to break even.

1983

Ottawa Ontario
- Roger Simmons 1943- resigns as Mines Minister; later charged with tax evasion; appointed only ten days earlier.

1979

Saskatoon Saskatchewan
- Former prime minister John Diefenbaker buried on the University of Saskatchewan campus.

1964

Vancouver BC
- Beatles give their first Canadian concert in Empire Stadium before 20,000 fans; hosted by DJ Red Robinson and broadcast live over radio station CKNW; play songs from their new album Something New; top ticket price $5.25; police cut concert short after 27 minutes, fearing a riot; bootlegged tapes of the show widely distributed.

Quebec Quebec
- Edward Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII 1894-1972 opens the Quebec Bridge, redesigned and rebuilt since two disastrous crash, the first in 1910 that killed 75 workers, many from Caughnawaga, the second, the loss of the complete centre span in 1916.

1914

Ottawa Ontario
- War Measures Act receives Royal Assent. The Finance Act, 1914, also becomes law, giving Ottawa the power to suspend payments in gold, and to make paper money legal tender.

1903

Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Captain Robert Abram Bartlett 1875-1946 sails Neptune from Halifax under command of A. P. Low of Geological Survey; to patrol, explore and establish Canadian authority in Hudson Bay and the Arctic.

1901

Sydney, Nova Scotia
- Construction starts on Cape Breton Railroad.

1898

Montreal Quebec
- Completion of the new Victoria Bridge.

1886

Queenston, Ontario
- William J. Kendall swims through the Niagara Rapids wearing a cork life jacket.

Montreal Quebec
- Founding of the Association of Patriotic Women (l'association des Dames Patriotiques); urge the wearing of local clothing to avoid taxation.

1777

Fort Stanwix New York
- Barry St. Leger abandons siege of Fort Stanwix when Benedict Arnold and a force of 1,000 arrive and frighten off Indians; retreats to Oswego.

1760

Sorel Quebec
- James Murray leads British troops in attacking and destroying Sorel.

1660

Montreal Quebec
- Pierre Radisson & Medart des Groseilliers return to New France with big load of furs; later fined, and their furs confiscated, for trading without a license; they decide to approach the English about forming a company to trade into Hudson Bay.